Golly Gee, We Didn't See

Do you believe everything you see?  Do you believe everything you read?... The news and social media bombards us daily (if we allow it to) with sometimes unbelievable stories and facts. It's up to us to cipher through and determine what we'll accept as truth.

In my current bible study, the first and most important item of "the armor of GOD" is to fasten on the belt of truth. Everything needs to be seen or questioned by TRUTH. What is truth?

truth ltroothl NOUN 

• the quality or state of being true.
• that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality

This week my inbox has included two articles on this topic. "Facebook" published one called "Tips to Spot False News." This was really well written and I think teachers could even use this when instructing students on critical reading skills. (Some of the ten points were: Consider, investigate, look closely, watch, and is this a joke?) When I stand in line at the grocery looking at the magazine covers, perhaps I need to remember this!

Joanna Gaines from the "Fixer Upper" show and "Magnolia Market" also sent out a post on her blog this week entitled "Don't Believe Everything You Read." She and her husband Chip have become quite famous and recognizable and the media LOVES to report stories about them. Just like Hollywood celebrities and politicians, they have to live with false reports about what is happening in their life. I appreciated her reminding readers and fans to only believe the TRUTH from the only source that is TRUE-her!

Last Saturday my husband and I had gone to a men's discount suit store to find him a new suit and a new black sport coat. It's been a LONG time since he's bought himself business clothes, and he needs to look sharp in his current job. I loved the way the black jacket fit him~he looked great! I do remember being a little concerned about the satin buttons but he was OK with them. 

As he was packing Sunday evening, he called me in to look at something. In the bright light we both noticed; the lapels were satin. It was as if our eyes were opened in the light of our bathroom and we both saw the evidence at the same time: WE HAD BOUGHT A TUXEDO JACKET, NOT A SPORT COAT! We couldn't believe what we were seeing. We couldn't believe what we missed in the store!

No wonder it was on sale! We obviously didn't take our time to: consider...look closely...investigate...inspect! The TRUTH was on the receipt where it was typed: TUX. (This would be #9 on the Facebook article~is this a joke?!) Thank goodness he didn't show up at a hospital in a tuxedo jacket! The truth is I was so busy looking at the "fit" I didn't pay attention to the "fabric!"

Let's also consider spiritual truth...
In the Baker's Evangelical Dictionary, the definition of truth is:

• a quality used to describe utterances that are from the Lord
• fundamental characteristic of God
• a virtue that the person of God should practice
• personified in the person of Jesus Christ

                                   

In Priscilla's Armor of God book on page 45 she states "You must filter every circumstance, personally and culturally, through the prism of His Word instead of merely learning on your feelings, political correctness, or the opinions of others."
Sometimes the truth is easier to spot than other times. 
Sometimes you need to shine the light on what you see and read, to determine TRUTH. 

Lesson Learned: When buying a sport coat, USE YOUR EYES. At other times don't only trust only what you can see but always, trust in the truth of God's word. 

"For we walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Corinthians 5:7

(Many years ago I wrote a blog called Seeing is Believing. It was a very tough period in our family's life and I was challenged to trust even if I couldn't always SEE the evidence of God

working in my life.)

Grateful for Grace and In His Grip,

xo Jane